Cue tip and method of making the same



Jan. 19 1926. 4 1,570,294

W. S. BORDEN CUE TIP AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed August 17. 1922 ygy g' z wh Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM SILAS BORDEN, F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

CUE TIP AND METHOD or MAKING THE SAME.

' Application filed August 17, 1922. Serial No. 582,525.

To all whomit may concern: 7

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. BORDEN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Cue Tip and Method of Making the Same, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a one tip and to an improved method of making the same. It is customary to provide the cues which are used in playing billiards and other similar games witha leather tip on the end which strikes'the ball. These tips are subject to hard and repeated blows against a hard curved surface which soon distorts the leather tip and necessitates frequent replace ment thereof with a corresponding expenditure of both time and labor.

It is the general object of my invention to provide a cue tip of improved construction which may be firmly secured to the tip and which will retain its shape during a long period of use, also giving a peculiarly effective contact with the ball.

A further feature of my invention relates to a method of manufacture by which my improved one tip may be conveniently and economically produced.

A preferred form of my invention and the several steps in the manufacture thereof are shown in the drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a strip of stock adapted for the production of my im proved tip Fig. 2 is a similar view of a small section of stock from which a single tip may be produced Fig. 8 illustrates the first mechanical step in the production of my improved tip;

Fig. 4 shows the result of the operation of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 show the two succeeding steps in the operation, and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a finished cue tip.

Referring to the drawings, I have indicated in Fig. 1 a strip 10 of thick heavy leather, preferably 0X or walrus hide and having the original outer layer or grain 11 of the skin left thereon.

I have found that the useful life of the tip may be extended and that the contact of the tip with the ball may be much improved by thoroughly saturating the leather with a solution of resin and alcohol, prefer- -oncue tips as wellas ably when the stock is in the form of the strips 10. This resin tends to preservethe leather and hold it from distortion anda-lso assists in retaining the chalk commonly used contact with the ball. a

In the manufacture of my improved tip I may usestrips of stock such as are shown in Fig. 1 or the stock may be subdivided into blocks 12 as shown in Fig. 2. In either case,

giving a much desired the block or strip is placed, grain side down, 1

upon a table or support 13 which may be grooved as at 14 to prevent rotation of the stock. A rotatingcutter 15 is then forced downward against the leather on the flesh side thereof, parting the material as shown in Fig. 4, and leaving a cone-shaped or semispherical projection 16 upon the upper side thereof.

The product shown in Fig. 4 is then placed under a combined punch and cylindrical rotary cutter as shown in Fig. 5. The punch 17 is forced downward by heavy pressure, flattening and compressing the projection 16 to approximately the shape shown at 19 in Fig. 5.

While the stock is thus held and compressed, the rotating cutter or saw 18 is moved downward as indicated in Fig. 6 to cut off the waste material, leaving the finished product 20, as shown in Fig. 7.

The compression of the projection 16 gives the wearing surface of the tip a very firm hard texture. As the stock is compressed substantially in its natural position instead of being forced inward from the cylindrical edges, as is the common practice, the tip permanently retains its original shape and there is little tendency toward distortion or flattening when in use.

I have found in actual use that one tips manufactured by my improved method and having my improved composition and construction will outlast several of the tips manufactured by the usual procedure and that they also give more satisfactory contact with the ball.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not Wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I do claim is 1. The method of producing a one tip which consists in partially forming a tip of greater thickness than the finished article and having a substantially semi-spherical portion at one side thereof, and thereafter compressing the tip to the desired thickness of the finished article.

2. The method of producing a cue tip which consists in taking a piece of leather, forming a substantially semi-spherical projection thereon, compressing the projecting portion against the base of the stock, and thereafter removing the surplus material.

3..The method of producing a cue tip which consists in saturating a piece of leather with a solution of resin, cutting away the stock to leave a substantially semi-spherical projection on the flesh side thereof, compressing the projecting stock against the grain face of the leather, and thereafter removing the surplus material.

41-. A cue tip formed of a single piece of leather thoroughly impregnated with resin and having its base formed from the grain side of the leather.

5. A cue tip formed of a single piece of leather impregnated with a solution of resin and firmly compressed to substantially less than its original thickness.

6. The method of making a cue tip including the shaping of a substantially semispherical portion above a base portion and the subsequent compressing of the semispherical portion upon the base portion to substantially the thickness of the finished tip.

7. The method of producing a one tip which consists in taking a substantially cylindrical leather blank, removing an edge portion of the stock from said piece of leather around one end of said cylindrical blank to form a reduced end portion and thereafter compressing said reduced end portion against the opposite base portion of said blank to compact the stock to a firm and hard texture.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

WILLIAM SILAS BORDEV. 

